Hidden gem
Jerash
Jerash, Jordan
جرش (Jarash)
A Roman provincial city with its streets, temples and theatres still standing, an hour from Amman.
Checked 7 October 2026
Jerash is ancient Gerasa, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere: a colonnaded main street, an oval forum, two theatres, a hippodrome and the Temple of Artemis, 48 km north of Amman. Entry is 10 JOD for foreign visitors at the gate and free with the Jordan Pass, so if you are also going to Petra, buy the pass before you fly. There are no timed slots or sell-outs; what decides your visit is heat and shade, so come at the 8:00 opening.
About Jerash
Jerash lies in a green valley in the hills of northern Jordan, about 48 km north of Amman. The ruins of Gerasa sit on the west bank of a small river, and the modern town of Jerash spreads over the slopes on the other side, sharing the line of the old city wall. People have lived here for thousands of years, but what you come for is the Greco-Roman city.
Gerasa was a Hellenistic town that came under Roman rule when Pompey conquered the region in 63 BC and joined the Decapolis, a league of ten largely self-governing cities. It grew rich on trade and farming, and Emperor Hadrian visited in AD 129–130: the triumphal arch built for that visit still greets you at the entrance. Under Byzantine rule the city filled with churches, several built from older temples, and in the Umayyad period a mosque stood beside them.
A great earthquake in 749 brought much of the city down, and after a Crusader raid in the early 12th century it was largely abandoned. That is why so much survived: excavation since the 1920s has uncovered the paved streets with chariot ruts, the Oval Plaza ringed by Ionic columns, the South Theatre (still used for concerts), the Nymphaeum fountain with its lion-head spouts and the tall columns of the Temple of Artemis.
Jerash is Jordan's second most visited sight after Petra, yet it feels far less busy: most tour groups come from Amman for a couple of hours in the late morning. Every summer the ruins become a stage again for the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts; its 40th edition ran from 22 July to 2 August 2026.
What to see
Hadrian's Arch
The triple arch built for Emperor Hadrian's visit in AD 129–130, standing on its own outside the city walls near the Visitor Centre. It was meant to become the new southern gate of an enlarged city that was never completed.
Hippodrome
A Roman arena about 245 m long that once held around 15,000 spectators for chariot races, the first big monument you pass after the arch. It is now mostly an empty track: the chariot show that used to run here may no longer run (see the FAQ).
Oval Plaza
The unusual oval forum, about 90 by 80 m, ringed by Ionic columns, where the main street begins. Climb the slope to the Temple of Zeus above it for the classic view down over the plaza and the length of the Cardo.
South Theatre
Built around AD 90–92 for more than 3,000 people, behind the Temple of Zeus. Stand on the central spot of the orchestra and speak normally to hear the acoustics; the stage is still used for concerts during the Jerash Festival.
Cardo Maximus
The colonnaded main street, about 800 m long and still paved with its original stones, with chariot ruts and drain holes into the Roman sewer beneath. It runs from the Oval Plaza to the North Gate and takes you past most of the other sights.
Nymphaeum
An ornate public fountain dedicated in AD 191, two storeys high, where water once poured through carved lion heads into basins at street level. It is on the Cardo, just before the steps up to the Temple of Artemis.
Temple of Artemis
The sanctuary of the city's patron goddess, reached by a monumental gateway and staircase off the Cardo, with its tall Corinthian columns still standing. It is the high point of the site, so it is the best place to look out over the whole city.
Byzantine churches and the North Theatre
Off the Cardo, the so-called Cathedral was built over a temple of Dionysus, and several more Byzantine churches lie behind it; further north is the smaller North Theatre of AD 165, later doubled to about 1,600 seats. Many day-trippers turn back before this part, so it is the quietest.
Jerash tickets: which to buy and where
Most visitors simply pay 10 JOD at the ticket office by the Visitor Centre; it includes the archaeological museum. If you are also visiting Petra and staying in Jordan at least two nights, the Jordan Pass (from 70 JOD) covers Jerash, Petra and your visa fee and is the better buy. Keep your ticket after you pay: it is checked again at the South Gate, a walk beyond the ticket office.
The official ticket site
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (ticket office at the Jerash Visitor Centre) and the Jordan Pass
Single Jerash tickets are not sold online: you pay at the ticket office by Hadrian's Arch. The only official online product is the Jordan Pass, sold on jordanpass.jo, which is run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The fee table on international.visitjordan.com (the Jordan Tourism Board) lists the official prices.
Jerash entrance ticket
10 JOD foreign visitors; 0.5 JOD Jordanians; under 12 free
(€13 · under €1)
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- The archaeological city and the Jerash Archaeological Museum, one day
- Best for
- Visitors not buying the Jordan Pass
Ticket office at the Visitor Centre · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Jordan Pass: Jordan Wanderer
70 JOD
(€88)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Jerash and more than 40 other sites (Ajloun Castle, Umm Qais, Amman Citadel, Wadi Rum), one day at Petra, and the 40 JOD visa fee if bought before arrival and you stay at least two nights
- Best for
- Anyone visiting Jerash and Petra on a trip of three days or more
jordanpass.jo (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Jordan Pass: Explorer and Expert
75 JOD (2 days at Petra); 80 JOD (3 days at Petra)
(€95 · €100)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- The same sites as the Wanderer, Jerash included, with two or three consecutive days at Petra
- Best for
- Visitors spending more than one day at Petra
jordanpass.jo (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Day trip from Amman with Jerash and Ajloun entry
from €49.16
ResellerDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Hotel pickup in central Amman, driver-guide, a local English-speaking guide for about 2 hours in Jerash, Ajloun Castle; entrance fees only with the option that includes them, or a Jordan Pass holder option
- Best for
- Visitors without a car who want a guide and transport in one booking
Headout · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- If you are visiting Petra too and staying in Jordan at least two nights, buy the Jordan Pass on jordanpass.jo before you fly; it is emailed as a PDF. Print it, because the QR code on a phone can be hard to scan, and show it at the Jerash ticket office.
- Otherwise, pay 10 JOD at the ticket office next to the Visitor Centre, a short walk from Hadrian's Arch. Bring Jordanian dinars in cash: card payment may not be available.
- Walk through the souvenir market to the South Gate and show your ticket or pass again there; keep it until you leave.
- Children under 12 accompanied by their parents enter free.
Look-alike sites
There is no booking site for single Jerash tickets, so any site 'selling Jerash entry' online is either the Jordan Pass or a tour reseller. The real Jordan Pass is sold only on jordanpass.jo (run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities); check that domain before you pay, and compare any 'skip-the-line Jerash ticket' with the 10 JOD gate price.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Jerash
Jerash has information panels and a site map, so you can visit on your own, but a guide brings the temples and churches to life and saves you walking past things. The Visitor Centre at the entrance provides local guides; no official rate is posted online, so agree the fee and length before you start. Day tours from Amman are mainly about transport: many include only a driver, so check whether a guide and the entrance fee are in the price.
Shared or private day trip with a local guide in Jerash
From Amman: Jerash and Ajloun Castle Day Trip
Headout (local partner operator)Pickup from central Amman, driver-guide on the road and a local English-speaking guide for about 2 hours at Jerash, then Ajloun Castle. Options with or without entrance fees, including one for Jordan Pass holders; meals not included.
from €49.16
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Shared or private day trip, driver only unless you add a guide
From Amman: Full Day Tour to Jerash, Ajloun and Umm Qais
Headout (local partner operator)Covers all three northern sites in one day with an English-speaking driver; the base price is transport only, with guides and entry tickets as paid options. Without a guide you can hire local guides at each site yourself.
from €50.05 (price varies by group size)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private half-day tour
Private Half Day Jerash Visit and Optional Cooking Class from Amman
Zaid Tours and Travel (Amman)
Private car with English-speaking driver and a local guide at Jerash (French or Spanish on request), entrance fees unless you choose the Jordan Pass option, and an optional cooking class at a restaurant in Jerash. The operator says it is not wheelchair accessible.
from $106.67
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private guided tour, Amman and Jerash
Amman city tour with visit to the ancient city of Jerash
Travco JordanPickup from Amman or the Dead Sea, English-speaking guide, and entrance fees to the Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, two museums and Jerash included. Pricey for Jerash alone, but it covers Amman's sights in the same day.
from $255
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Jerash deals and discounts
Jerash itself is cheap at 10 JOD; the real saving is the Jordan Pass, which covers Jerash, Petra and the 40 JOD visa fee for 70 JOD if you buy it before arrival and stay at least two nights. If you are not going to Petra, just pay at the gate.
Jordan Pass covers Jerash
Jerash, Ajloun Castle, Umm Qais, the Amman Citadel and over 40 other sites plus one to three days at Petra, from 70 JOD. Bought before arrival with a stay of at least two nights, it also waives the 40 JOD visa fee. It is valid for 3 months from purchase and expires 1 month after its first scan.
Museum included in the ticket
The Jerash Archaeological Museum is listed at 10 JOD on its own, but entry is included in the archaeological city ticket and in the Jordan Pass, so do not pay twice.
Children under 12 free
Children under 12 enter Jordan's tourist sites free when accompanied by their parents, according to the Jordan Pass FAQ, so they need no pass of their own.
Minibus instead of a taxi
Minibuses from Amman cost about 1 JOD each way (May 2025) against roughly 8–10 JOD for a one-way taxi (undated figure). Both come from Wikivoyage, so expect some change. With two or more people, a driver who waits can still be worth it if you combine Jerash with Ajloun.
Best time to visit Jerash
Time of day: be at the gate when it opens at 8:00. Tour groups from Amman and the Dead Sea arrive mid-morning, and there is almost no shade on the site. Late afternoon is pleasant too, but the site may close as early as 16:00 outside summer.
Season: March–May and October–November are the most comfortable, with spring wildflowers between the stones. June–September is hot in the middle of the day; winter brings rain and the shortest opening hours.
Festival: during the Jerash Festival (22 July–2 August in 2026; usually late July into early August) the site is busier, with stages and crafts in the ruins and concerts in the South Theatre in the evenings.
Ramadan: opening hours shift to 8:30–18:00 according to the official Jerash site, and some services may close earlier.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Start at the top and walk downhill
The site rises gently to the Temple of Artemis and the North Gate. Some visitors walk straight up the Cardo to the far end first while it is cool and visit the Oval Plaza and South Theatre on the way back.
From Wikivoyage Jerash, 2025; TripAdvisor Jerash Ruins reviews, 2026
Keep your ticket for the second check
Your ticket is checked at the ticket office and again at the South Gate after the souvenir market. Lose it in between and you may have to pay again.
From TripAdvisor Jerash reviews, 2026
Bring a hat, water and sturdy shoes
Visitors describe the route as mostly flat with short climbs and some steps, on dirt paths and worn paving, with almost no shade. Carry water from the start: the café is by the entrance.
From TripAdvisor Jerash Ruins reviews, 2026
Climb to the Temple of Zeus for the view
The terrace above the Oval Plaza, next to the South Theatre, gives the best photo over the plaza and down the colonnaded street.
From Wikivoyage Jerash, 2025
Test the theatre acoustics
Stand on the central stone in the South Theatre's orchestra and speak at a normal volume: you can be heard in the upper rows. Musicians in traditional military dress often play bagpipes here.
From visitjordan.com; Wikivoyage Jerash, 2025
Do not buy 'ancient coins'
Children and touts inside the site offer Roman coins and small 'artefacts'. Either they are fakes, or they come from the site, and buying them is illegal. Say no.
From Wikivoyage Jerash, 2025
Note the last minibus
Minibuses back to Amman run less often in the afternoon and during Ramadan. If you are combining Jerash with Ajloun by public transport, go Amman–Ajloun first, then Ajloun–Jerash, then back to Amman, as more buses run in that direction.
From Wikivoyage Jerash, 2025
Allow a whole morning
Recent visitors report 2 hours for the highlights and 3–4 hours to see everything properly, including the churches and North Theatre.
From TripAdvisor Jerash Ruins reviews, 2026
How to get to Jerash
- By minibus: shared minibuses to Jerash leave from Amman's North Bus Station (Tabarbour) when full, about 1 JOD and an hour's drive. Since the BRT rapid bus opened they run less often from Tabarbour, so it can be quicker to take the BRT from downtown (the Jordan Museum stop) to its terminus at Sweileh and catch a Jerash minibus near Sweileh park (figures from May 2025).
- Returning: minibuses to Amman leave from the junction south of the Hippodrome, about a 10-minute walk from the Visitor Centre, and from Jerash bus station by the North Gate. In Amman, make sure your taxi goes to downtown Raghadan, not the other Raghadan station a few kilometres away.
- By taxi or driver: Wikivoyage (undated) gives roughly 8–10 JOD one way from Amman, and up to about 40 JOD with the driver waiting and bringing you back; treat these as a guide to haggling. Agree the price for the whole car before you set off.
- By car: from Amman head north-west towards Sweileh and follow the brown signs for Jerash; the drive takes about 40–50 minutes. The entrance, Visitor Centre and Hadrian's Arch are at the south end of the site.
- Combining Ajloun and Umm Qais: Ajloun Castle is about 16 km from Jerash and easy to add by car or minibus; Umm Qais is further north beyond Irbid, so all three in one day works best with a driver or a day tour.
Scams and problems to watch for
The souvenir bazaar between ticket office and gate
You walk through a row of souvenir and 'antique' shops after buying your ticket. Prices are open to bargaining and nothing labelled antique should be bought: genuine antiquities cannot be legally sold or exported. The tell-tale sign is a 'certificate' or a story about a farmer's field.
Unofficial guides inside the ruins
Men approach you at the monuments, start explaining, and then ask for money at the end. Guides are provided through the Visitor Centre at the entrance; if someone offers a tour inside the site, agree a price first or politely decline.
Fake Roman coins and photo touts
Touts offer 'original' coins after helping with your photo, or stand in your shot at the Nymphaeum or Temple of Artemis. A costumed 'centurion' at the Hippodrome was reported in 2018 to expect about 1 JOD for a photo. Decline firmly, and report pushy touts at the Visitor Centre.
Taxi per-person pricing
Drivers from Amman sometimes quote a price and later say it was per person. Agree the fare for the whole taxi, and for waiting time, before you get in.
Jordan Pass on unofficial sites
The pass is sold only on jordanpass.jo. Sites that 'sell the Jordan Pass' or a 'Jerash skip-the-line ticket' at a mark-up add nothing: there is rarely a queue at Jerash.
Accessibility
Much of Jerash is spread over gently sloping ground, and recent visitors describe it as mostly flat, but the surfaces are original Roman paving with ruts and gaps, dirt paths and steps, and the theatres, Temple of Zeus and Temple of Artemis are reached by stone stairs. A wheelchair user with a strong companion can see Hadrian's Arch, the Hippodrome from the outside and parts of the Oval Plaza and Cardo, but not the higher monuments. The official sites say nothing about wheelchair loan or step-free routes, so call the Visitor Centre (+962 2 635 1272) before you go. There is very little shade, so heat is the main issue for visitors with limited stamina.
Combine it with
Ajloun Castle
A medieval Islamic hilltop fortress about 16 km from Jerash, a maze of passages with wide views over northern Jordan. 3 JOD, or free with the Jordan Pass; the classic half-day add-on to Jerash.
Umm Qais (Gadara)
Gadara, another city of the Decapolis, beyond Irbid in the far north of Jordan. 5 JOD or Jordan Pass; best with a driver on the same day as Jerash.
Dibeen Forest Reserve
Woodland near Jerash for a walk or picnic after the ruins; 2 JOD per car plus tax. Busy at weekends.
Amman Citadel
The Roman Temple of Hercules and Amman's oldest remains on the city's highest hill, 3 JOD or Jordan Pass. Easy to see on the way back to the city in the late afternoon.
Petra
On SightsaleNot a same-day trip (it is about three hours south of Amman), but the main reason to buy the Jordan Pass that also covers Jerash. Most visitors pair Petra with Wadi Rum.
Questions people ask about visiting Jerash
How much is the entrance fee to Jerash?
10 JOD for foreign visitors, including the Jerash Archaeological Museum; Jordanians pay 0.5 JOD and children under 12 enter free. Entry is free with the Jordan Pass (from 70 JOD), which also covers Petra. Prices as listed by the Jordan Tourism Board in October 2026.
Is Jerash included in the Jordan Pass?
Yes. All three Jordan Pass packages (70, 75 and 80 JOD) include Jerash, along with Petra, Wadi Rum, Ajloun Castle, Umm Qais and more than 40 other sites. Show the printed pass at the Jerash ticket office; it is activated at the first site you visit.
What are Jerash's opening hours?
The official Jerash site gives 8:00–16:00 in winter (November to April), 8:00–17:30 in April and May, 8:00–18:30 in summer and 8:30–18:00 during Ramadan; its own winter and spring periods overlap in April. The Jordan Pass site lists a flat 8:00–17:00 all year (both checked October 2026). The official pages disagree, so outside summer plan to finish by 16:00.
Is the Roman chariot show at Jerash still running?
It may not run any more. The Roman Army and Chariot Experience (RACE) used to stage shows twice a day at the Hippodrome, but its website no longer works and the newest visitor reviews date from 2019 (checked October 2026). Ask at the Visitor Centre on arrival rather than planning your day around it.
How do I get from Amman to Jerash by bus?
Take a minibus from the North Bus Station (Tabarbour), or take the BRT to Sweileh and a minibus from near Sweileh park; it costs about 1 JOD and takes about an hour (Wikivoyage, May 2025; fares may have changed). Minibuses leave when full and thin out in the afternoon.
How long do you need at Jerash?
Two to three hours for the Oval Plaza, South Theatre, Cardo, Nymphaeum and Temple of Artemis; three to four hours to also see the churches, North Theatre and museum. Most people combine it with Ajloun Castle for a full day from Amman.
When is the Jerash Festival?
Usually from late July into early August. The 40th edition ran from 22 July (opening night) to 2 August 2026, with concerts in the South Theatre and events across the site. Dates for 2027 are announced by the festival on jerashfestival.jo.
More sights in Jordan
Petra
Wadi Musa, Jordan
The Nabataeans' rock-cut capital: the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery high above.
- From
- 50 JOD(€63)
- Time needed
- One long day for the Siq, Treasury and Monastery; two days to add the High Place and the back trail
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum Village (Aqaba Governorate), Jordan
Jordan's red desert of sandstone towers, Bedouin camps and stars: Mars on film.
- From
- 5 JOD entry(€6)
- Time needed
- A 4-hour jeep tour plus one night in a camp; a full day if you add Burdah arch or a hike
Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.